Chapter 42: You’re a Teacher?

“Of course, as long as you work hard, you’ll only do better than me,” Zhou Nianci praised.

Zhang Xiaohua’s spirits soared at the compliment. If the quarrels with those boys had been the spark that ignited her desire to study, then this conversation with Zhou Nianci was the catalyst that fueled her thirst for knowledge.

With clear goals and motivation, Zhang Xiaohua looked at Zhang Tiejun resolutely. “Brother, I must go to school.”

Zhang Tiejun nodded. “I understand. After the New Year, I’ll handle your enrollment and find a kind family for you to stay with.”

“Stay with a family?” Zhou Nianci glanced at Zhang Xiaohua. “Xiaohua, you haven’t started school yet?”

Zhang Xiaohua’s mother then recounted her situation to Zhou Nianci, who suddenly slapped her thigh. “Oh, I was wondering what was going on. No need to stay with anyone; the school has a dormitory.”

“I’m a bit uneasy about Xiaohua being a girl, so I wanted to find someone for her to stay with,” Zhang Tiejun admitted his concern.

“It’s alright. Leave Xiaohua’s care to me,” Zhou Nianci volunteered with confidence, causing Zhang Tiejun to frown.

Zhou Nianci explained, “I’m from Hunchun and studied news editing at the university in the mountain city. Now that liberation has come, I’m not planning to leave Guandong Mountain again. Plus, the elementary school in Hunchun has agreed to hire me as a teacher. I was originally going to report there after burning my master’s books, but Xiaohua can wait until after the New Year and come straight to school to find me. We’ll share a dorm, and I can help tutor her when I have time.”

“Really!” Zhang Xiaohua was so excited she began hopping on the kang stove.

Zhang Xiaohua’s mother smiled warmly. “If that’s the case, it’s truly a favor to you.”

“What’s so troublesome about it? I was a bit scared going alone to that unfamiliar place. Having Xiaohua with me sounds perfect,” Zhou Nianci said, glancing toward Zhang Tiejun. “Besides, he’s helping me too.”

Late into the night, Zhang Tiejun was alone in the courtyard, tinkering with traps. The venison from the last hunting trip was almost gone. Although he had bought plenty of grain and the donkey cart had delivered two slabs of cured meat, Zhang Tiejun realized they didn’t have much meat left at home. Moreover, Dazhong had promised Qiao Kangzhan a thousand jin of meat.

It was time for one last mountain trip before the New Year.

“Brother, what do you think?” Zhang Xiaohua’s voice came from behind Zhang Tiejun, who didn’t turn around. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“About Teacher Zhou,” Zhang Xiaohua said excitedly.

“What about Teacher Zhou?” Zhang Tiejun replied.

“Oh, brother, you’re so clueless. I’m not talking about that. I mean, what do you think of her as a person?”

“She’s nice. You should study well under her,” Zhang Tiejun answered casually.

Seeing Zhang Tiejun didn’t catch her meaning, Zhang Xiaohua grew anxious, hopping up and down. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what is it?” he asked.

“You want me to say it clearly, huh?” Zhang Xiaohua blurted, a bit flustered. “I’m asking if Teacher Zhou could be my sister-in-law?”

Zhang Tiejun was stunned. “Why are you saying nonsense at this hour instead of sleeping?”

“I’m not making things up, I’m stating facts,” Zhang Xiaohua said thoughtfully. “I’m a woman, and I can tell Teacher Zhou feels differently about you.”

“Get lost, you little brat. What do you know about men and women? You’ve eaten too much candy and got heartburn. Go to bed now,” Zhang Tiejun scolded.

“Brother, trust me. Mom thinks the same,” Zhang Xiaohua lowered her voice as she glanced at the two who had already fallen asleep. “Mom hopes you find someone literate, not just some uneducated country woman.”

“Go to sleep now,” Zhang Tiejun said impatiently. “If you keep talking, I’ll spank you.”

“Got it!” Zhang Xiaohua stuck out her tongue playfully.

As she entered the house, she didn’t forget to wave her small fist at Zhang Tiejun, signaling him to keep going.

The cock’s crow and dog’s bark marked the start of a brand-new day at the Qiao family shop.

“Teacher Zhou, Teacher Zhou, get up! My brother is calling you,” Zhang Xiaohua said excitedly as she roused Zhou Nianci, winking mischievously. “He even prepared a gift for you.”

Zhou Nianci smiled gently, her bright teeth flashing in a lazy yet content expression. “It’s been a long time since I’ve slept on a Northeast kang stove. This feeling is truly comfortable.”

Zhou Nianci’s naturally lively personality, combined with the previous night’s conversation and her good rapport with the Zhang mother and daughter, endeared her even more to Zhang Xiaohua’s mother.

After a quick freshening up, Zhou Nianci was stopped by Zhang Tiejun as soon as she stepped outside.

“Here, put these on,” he said, handing her a pair of cotton shoes.

“Ah?” Zhou Nianci looked at the pair of brand-new but rather unattractive large cotton shoes in his hands and felt a bit reluctant. “Won’t this look strange?”

Her concern was understandable; pairing a side-slit cheongsam with black cotton shoes did seem unusual.

“There’s about twenty li of mountain path from here to where you’re going. If you don’t mind hurting your feet, wear whatever you like,” Zhang Tiejun said as he shoved the black cotton shoes at her and turned to head up the mountain without looking back.

Zhou Nianci examined the large black cotton shoes carefully. “Who made these? They look crooked, but the cotton inside is pretty new.”

“I did. Like it or not,” Zhang Tiejun’s cold voice echoed lazily from behind.

Hearing this, Zhou Nianci couldn’t help but chuckle, imagining this aloof man sewing shoes for her by candlelight.

The mountain was unusually quiet today; Zhang Tiejun guessed it was because the village had set off firecrackers all night yesterday.

They walked one after the other. Frail Zhou Nianci soon struggled with the climb, complaining after only a few li.

Just as Zhang Tiejun had said, but thankfully she had the big black cotton shoes protecting her feet; otherwise, with those high heels, her ankles would surely have been blistered.

“How much farther?” Zhou Nianci leaned against a large tree, panting.

“About one more mountain peak,” Zhang Tiejun pointed to a bare mountaintop not far ahead. “You’ve never been here?”

“No. When my master sent me away from the Northeast, he was still in decent health. But he later died of illness, and it was a few colleagues who buried him. They finally sent me an envelope.”

“Well, let’s go. The weather’s good today. We should reach before noon.”